Growing up a child of the 80s, I certainly have an appreciation for new games that pay homage to anything within the 8-bit to 16-bit era, especially when it comes to games that ramp up the difficulty meter to near impossible levels in order to give the current generation of gamers a nice kick in the pants. Vlambeer’s Super Crate Box has both qualities that I respect in a game, and if you decide to play it, will not only frustrate you, but it’ll most likely cause you to shout expletives at a doctor’s office, during church, or anywhere else you think it’s safe to play it.
Super Crate Box is a platformer whose graphics and style offer a throwback to a more simple time in gaming history. Its 8-bit style graphics, gameplay mechanics, and music all engross the player in an experience thought only possible through a time machine. Your goal is simple: collect as many crates as possible without dying. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, it actually would be quite simple if it wasn’t for the waves of enemies that are thrown at you.
Thankfully, players won’t have to worry about sluggish controls as Vlambeer worked very hard on getting the controls just right. The only issues I had with the game’s controls was playing on the iPhone, it was hard to tell where my character was due to the controls being in the way. This would cause me to move my fingers off the screen for a second to see where a crate could possibly be, which with a game like this, could be a huge mistake to make.
At launch, the game has three levels: Construction Yard, Rocket Silo, and Moon Temple. If you collect a certain amount of crates within a level, you’ll be able to unlock two new modes within each level that increase the difficulty. SMFT mode warns players to play it after the children have gone to bed, and the following Ambush mode is as deadly as it sounds as enemies frequently pop up out of nowhere.
Not only can players unlock new modes, but also a number of new characters that cycle through randomly each time you play as well as new weapons such as the Shotgun, Rocket Launcher, and fury causing Disc Gun. Unlocking each weapon won’t take much effort, but in order to unlock every character, you’ll need to collect a certain amount of crates in each level before dying.
FINAL THOUGHT: Super Crate Box wants its players to go back to a time where your high score meant everything to other players. Its super tight controls, addictive gameplay, and unlockables is perfect for a quick game or a marathon session.
Super Crate Box ($.99) – [iTunes Link]